GEORGE, the dragon-slaying patron saint of England, did not slay dragons and was not English. But he is the only patron saint we have got, so it is good to see his day being celebrated, although not yet on the scale of the feast of St Patrick.

A St George's Day report has called for football to lead the way in reclaiming his flag from the extremists. This is an admirable idea: for too long the Union flag in particular has been associated with racism and thuggery.

It is time to restore our flag as a symbol of traditional British virtues of tolerance and fair play.

Updated: 11:33 Tuesday, April 23, 2002